Dedicated to Peacebuilding
Accomplished attorney and former UN official, adept at navigating legal challenges in intricate conflict and crisis situations across the Middle East and Africa. Expertise spans international criminal law, rule of law, transitional justice, international human rights and humanitarian law, electoral security and strategic communications. Demonstrated leadership in team settings, thriving in interdisciplinary collaborations in extremely high-stress environments. Holds a Juris Doctorate from City University New York School of Law, an MA in War Studies/Counterterrorism from King's College London, and a BSc in Mass Communications from Boston University. Further enhanced skills with certificates in Negotiation from Harvard Law School.
Publications:
Miami Herald—Biden Thanks Kenya for Leading the Haiti Mission
The Media Line: National Unity, Logistical Infrastructure Key To Holding Elections in Libya
USIP— Amid Alarming Rise in Conflict, Multilateralism is the Only Answer
USIP—Rethinking U.S. Engagement with U.N. in the Context of Ukraine: Part One
USIP—Rethinking U.S. Engagement with U.N. in the Context of Ukraine: Part Two
USIP—Positivism for Peace: Reforming the International System
Interview on the start of the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly in 2023.
Appearance on Alhurra March 2023 for the Summit for Democracy
Saturday March 11, 2023: Interview on Al Jazeera’s “News Harvest”, discussing the UN Special Representative for Libya’s plans to support elections in 2023.
The UNDP Local Elections Project conducted a “Libyan Electoral Security Workshop” from 11-13 June 2021. The event brought together 11 officials from the Ministry of Interior (MoI) and six from the Central Committee for Municipal Council Elections (CCMCE) to work alongside UNDP, UNITAR, UNSMIL, IFES, USIP, Chemonics and a number of embassy representatives to shape a way forward for implementing a joint, comprehensive security plan for the local and national elections.
One of the major outcomes of the event was an agreement between the MoI and CCMCE to establish a Coordination Mechanism, including a Joint Operations Center, for all stakeholders to ensure the continuity of security efforts for the second generation of municipal council elections and the upcoming national elections, planned for 24 December.
Through case studies, the participants classified the major security risks and charted their needs to mitigate election violence throughout future and ongoing elections cycles (including the pre and post-election periods). In the closing session, the MoI and CCMCE gave detailed presentations to the international community, outlining their proposed needs in the areas of Human Resources (staffing and training); Technical Assistance; Tools and Equipment; and Community Outreach.
The Conclusions of the workshop were well received by the international guests, who made commitments to continue engagement with the Libyan institutions and partners to see what support can be provided.
Libyan Political Dialogue: Project Manager
United Nations Official
Starting in 2011, I worked for a number UN offices, agencies and programmes in a variety of roles. I carved out a reputation as a uniquely capable troubleshooter, willing to take on novel challenges in difficult settings.
I have designed a number of programme strategies for the United Nations, most notably for large-scale responses in Iraq and Libya. Examples of work include:
Cambodia War Crimes Tribunal Testimony
Sydney Schanberg testified before the Cambodia War Crimes Tribunal via videolink from the United Nations in New York City. His testimony before The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia in the trials of Khmer Rouge leaders Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan took place from June 5 to 7, 2013. Each evening, a UN staff attorney ushered Syd to a conference room where the video link was established to coincide with the court’s three-hour morning sessions in Phnom Penh. UN attorney Andrew Cheatham (photo, left) acted as the witness counsel for the Schanberg testimony. The proceedings occasionally became contentious when defense attorneys attempted to portray Khmer Rouge intentions as beneficial to the people of Cambodia. In 1975, Sydney Schanberg was interned in the French Embassy after the fall of Cambodia when the Khmer Rouge drove 2 million people out of Phnom Penh into the countryside as part of the Communist’s agrarian revolution and began a 4-year genocide.
Over 12 Years of International Experience
Advocate & Mediator
Starting as a family law and and plaintiff’s advocate, I then moved to work as a lawyer with the United Nations on a number of international and domestic legal matters all over the world.
Lecturer/Panelist
Independent of my work with the United Nations, I have been invited to speak on a variety of issues related to political dialogue, reconciliation, stabilization and international development generally in crisis environments.